How Things Work quizzes
The science behind everyday experiences, how your body works, and the technology inside your phone.
Quizzes in this topic
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The Science of Everyday Life
Why metal spoons feel cold, how ABS shortens stops, and what really makes a microwave heat your dinner. Fifty questions on the physics hiding in plain sight.
50 questions -
Your Body, Explained
Why metal feels colder than wood, why your voice sounds wrong on tape, and what really causes dizziness, scars, and next-day soreness. 50 questions on the machine you live in.
50 questions
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From The Science of Everyday Life
Noise-cancelling headphones work by generating a sound wave that is:
- Much higher in pitch so the ear ignores the original
- Inverted in phase relative to the incoming noise
- Louder than the noise, masking it completely
Show the answer
Answer: Inverted in phase relative to the incoming noise
A microphone samples the ambient sound and the headphone emits a wave whose peaks line up with the noise's troughs, so the two largely cancel. It works best on steady low-frequency sound like engine drone.
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